Perran Moon

Thank you again, Mrs Harris, for chairing the debate. I thank all hon. Members who have participated. My hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland (Luke Myer) made excellent points about the critical minerals list. My hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Tom Hayes) highlighted the importance of critical minerals for green economic transition. My hon. Friend the Member for St Austell and Newquay (Noah Law) unsurprisingly banged the drum for lithium in the clay country, but also importantly highlighted the supply chain insecurity that forms the basis of the debate. The hon. Member for St Ives (Andrew George) commented on working with local conservationists. Further to the example he gave, I draw his attention to the Red River in my constituency, where water being removed from South Crofty mine is being cleaned, with the alkaline content altered slightly, and then pumped back into the river to improve the quality of the water and the ecology. I also draw his attention to modern smelting practices, which are completely transformed and do not have the same levels of environmental risk as they did back in their heyday. It is unrealistic to expect domestic resources to meet all the UK’s demand for critical minerals. I do not seek to suggest that we can. What I advocate, and will continue to work towards, is the maximisation of what we have. We must build industry to improve the security of the supply chain, underpin our energy transition in a responsible and environmentally-friendly way, improve our export position, and provide good, well-paid, long-term jobs for local communities across some of the most deprived areas of the UK. We cannot afford to wait. If we do, the opportunity will pass us by. Supporting this industry today will ensure that it becomes a beacon of success for the UK economy. On the other hand, failure to support the industry now exposes us to a multitude of risks. Unquestionably, critical minerals are central to the Government’s overall economic ambitions, and I am delighted to support those ambitions in any way I can. I thank the shadow Minister for his exhibition of whataboutery in introducing pylons and the OZEV mandate into the debate. I think this debate is a little bit more important than whataboutery. I simply ask him whether he admits that the UK is over-reliant on and vulnerable to foreign supply. What on earth have the previous Government been doing for the last 14 years? I thank the Minister for her commitment to critical mineral production, and for the time she has given to allow me and others to explain the opportunities that exist in our communities. I am delighted that a critical mineral steering group has been established, and I conclude by thanking again all Members who have participated in the debate. Question put and agreed to. Resolved, That this House has considered the domestic production of critical minerals.